Rookie G Looney passes physical, activated from injury list

As Joe Looney went through aggressive rehab work on a side field during the first few practices of training camp, the 49ers rookie guard appeared to be nearly recovered from the Lisfranc foot injury he suffered in January at the Senior Bowl.

Sure enough, Looney, a fourth-round pick from Wake Forest, has passed a physical and been activated from the active/non-football injury list. The 49ers have the day off today, but Looney will make his practice debut when they return to the field at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Looney’s late start makes him a long shot to factor into the competition for the starting spot at right guard, which includes Alex Boone, the current starter, and 12-year veteran and three-time pro Bowler Leonard Davis, who was signed last week.

The 49ers traded a sixth-round pick to the Lions to move up eight spots and select Looney in April. Looney was credited by Wake Forest with 73.5 knockdown blocks as a senior when he was a second-team all-ACC pick.

“This is a good football player,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said on air after the 49ers selected Looney. “I think he slid a little bit (due to injury).”